Brussels, 29/05/2015 - On Thursday, 28 May, the European Commission issued two reasoned opinions against Greece in its monthly communication on infringement procedures.
The first focuses on poor application of the EU regulation on airport charges (Directive 2009/12/EC) and for the operation of air services (Regulation 1008/2008). Airport charges are the taxes airlines have to pay national and regional airports for using their infrastructure, particularly their runways and terminals. These charges can be as high as 10% of the operating costs and have an impact on ticket costs and ultimately on consumers.
The rates applicable in Greece are significantly different to those in other member states of the Schengen area but without any objective justification, argues the Commission and therefore effectively contravene European legislation and the non-discrimination principle. Greece therefore has two months to comply, failing which they could be referred to the European Court of Justice.
The second reasoned opinion requests Greece correctly to apply EU rules concerning the interconnection of national registers for road transport (Regulation 1071/2009/EC) setting out the conditions that need to be respected when exercising the profession of a road haulier. European legislation seeks to create a standardised framework to authorise access to the occupation of road haulage operator or road transport operator, and in this way favour the completion of an internal market in road transport with fair conditions of competition.
National registers and their mutual interconnection should have been in place since 31 December 2012. The request was sent in the form of reasoned opinion under the EU infringement procedure. Greece now has two months to notify the Commission of the measures taken to fully comply with the relevant EU rules, otherwise the Commission may decide to refer Greece to the EU Court of Justice. (Pascal Hansens)